SNAPSHOT
Though he is not a household name, Peter Hutchinson isn't a stranger to Minnesota politics. He was commissioner of finance in the Perpich administration and was a deputy mayor of Minneapolis. He says he's been involved in two campaigns and both times his candidate lost. But, he says, " while democracy can be rough, in the long run citizens know right from wrong."

Hutchinson started a consulting firm to try new ways of managing government. In 1993, his firm took over the running of the Minneapolis Public Schools. He served as superintendent. He also says his firm helped redesign the Department of Transportation and the Statewide Accounting System in New York state, the child welfare system in Iowa, the budget systems in Spokane and elsewhere.

In his primary election victory, Hutchinson received about 66 percent of the vote cast.